Health and safety Flashcards
What Health and Safety Laws are you aware of?
- Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
- Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.
- Construction Design and Management (CDM) Regulations 2015.
What regulations underpin the HSWA?
- Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (1999).
- Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences (1995).
- Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (2002).
- Building Regulations.
- Construction Design Management (CDM) Regulations 2015.
What is the HSE, when was it established and what authorities do they have?
- Health and Safety Executive.
- Established in January 1975.
- Authorities:
- To conduct inspections and investigations without notice to ensure compliance.
- Can enforce H&S laws through improvement notices, prohibition notices and prosecution.
- Can prosecute clients, organizations and individuals for serious breaches which can result in fines, imprisonment or other penalties imposed.
- Can authorise the shutdown of construction sites for non-compliance.
What are the CDM 2015 Regulations?
- To improve the health and safety in the industry by properly considering them during the project development so that the risk of harm is reduced.
- It applies to all construction and building works.
- In doing so it:
- sensibly plans the works so risks are managed from start to finish.
- ensures the right people for the right tasks.
- cooperates and coordinates work with others.
- ensures the right information about the risks are obtained and managed.
- communicates this information effectively to those who need to know.
What are the responsibilities of the client under CDM 2015?
- Appoint competent duty holders.
- Prepare and provide relevant information to duty holders including pre-construction information to tenderers.
- Ensure the principal designer and contractor carry out their duties.
- Ensure welfare facilities.
- Allow sufficient time and resources.
What are the responsibilities of the principal designer under CDM 2015?
- Plan, manage, monitor and coordinate H&S (pre-construction).
- Identify, eliminate, or control foreseeable risks.
- Ensure client and designers are aware of their duties.
- Providing advice to the client for preparing the pre-construction information.
- Liaise with principal contractor in the planning, management, monitoring and coordination of the construction phase.
- Must be appointed if there is more than one trade contractor on site.
- Prepare a health and safety file.
What are the responsibilities of the principal contractor under CDM 2015?
- Consider all health and safety risks.
- Prepare a construction phase plan.
- Manage contractors and workers.
- Ensure all workers have site induction, PPE, work in accordance with H&S principles.
What is an F10 form?
- Is a form used to notify the HSE of the project.
- Contains the following information:
- Address of the construction site.
- Name of local authority.
- Brief description of project and construction works involved.
- Details of client and contractor.
- Indication of time allowed by the client for the principal contractor to plan, prepare for construction works.
- Provide a planned date for the start of the work, duration of construction and number of people on site at any one time.
What are differences between CDM 2007 and CDM 2015?
CDM 2007:
- Domestic projects not notified to HSE.
- CDM Coordinator.
- Non-domestic projects are notified to the HSE that last over 30 days or 500 person days.
- Less duties on non-notified projects unless notified.
- No Principal Designer.
- Construction phase plan applies to notifiable projects and prepared by PC.
- Pre-construction information applies to notifiable projects and prepared by CDM Coordinator with information gather by client.
- Health and Safety file applies to notifiable projects and prepared by CDM Coordinator with information gather by PC, designers and contractors.
CDM 2015:
- Domestic projects are notified to HSE.
- CDM Coordinator is replaced with Principal Designer.
- All projects are notified to the HSE that last over 30 days with more than 20 workers or 500 person days.
- All projects must comply with duties whether notified or not an regardless of size and duration.
- Appointment of PD and PC applies on projects with more than one contractor.
- Construction phase plan applies to all projects and is prepared by PC.
- Pre-construction information applies to all projects and prepared by PD with information gather by client.
- Health and Safety file applies to all projects and prepared by PD with information gather by PC, designers and contractors.
What is the QS role in terms of CDM 2015 Regulations?
Some of these roles include:
- Providing cost advice on different design solutions that impact H&S requirements such as material selection, methods of construction and etc.
- Advising the client in fulfilling their duties under the CDM Regulations.
- Removing/flagging project risks in meetings.
- Assist in pre-tender information which can contribute to pre-construction information.
- Reviewing H&S proposals as part of contractor’s tender.
- QS’s are considered as designers, as defined under the CDM.
- Designer is someone who has the ability to influence the design.
What are the requirements if a project is NOT notifiable to HSE?
- Over one Contractor on site, Client has to appoint PC and PD.
- Pre-construction information.
- Construction phase plan.
When visiting a new site, what do you do?
- I follow the RICS Surveying Safely, 2nd Edition, November 2018 as best practice for surveyors in the industry.
- I inform the site manager of my arrival.
- I ensure I have my relevant H&S qualification visible such as CSCS card.
- I ensure I have the correct personal protective equipment (PPE).
- I may partake in an induction.
What RICS guidance are you aware of relating to health and safety?
- Surveying safely - health and safety principles for property professionals.
- Health and safety for residential buildings.
What does surveying safely cover?
- Personal and corporate responsibilities for RICS members and regulated firms.
- Assessing hazards and risks.
- RICS members place of work.
- Occupational hygiene.
- Visiting site.
- Fire safety.
- General procurement and management of contractors.
What should you do if asked to visit a vacant site?
- Electricity - it is likely there will be no power which means no lighting which could increase the risk of trip hazards due to no visibility. Therefore one should conduct their visit to allow maximum use of daylight especially to areas such as stairwells and basements.
- Heating - no power will also mean no heating therefore appropriate clothing should be worn to remain warm especially during winter months.
- Vandalism - look out for signs of break-ins which could indicate squatters or other unauthorised access. Notify the client and with their permission to also notify the police. If vandalism is a regular occurrence then consider whether it is safe for viewings to be conducted by just one person.
What is RIDDOR?
- Reporting of injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences regulations.
- It requires the ‘responsible person’ to notify the HSE of any deaths, reportable injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences.
- This can be done either on-line or by phone.
- The ‘responsible person’ is the client or, for the self-employed, the contractor or principal contractor.
What type of incidents are reportable under RIDDOR?
- Death and major injuries such as loss of consciousness or loss of limb.
- Occupational diseases.
- Dangerous occurrences such as gas explosions, hazardous substances, structural collapse or collision and etc.
- Gas incidents.
What is COSHH?
- Control of Substances Hazardous to Health.
- This regulation aims to avoid exposure to hazardous substances or limit exposure that is proportionate to health risk.
What is not covered under COSHH?
- Asbestos.
- Lead.
Who do you inform when attending site?
- Inform the site manager and sign-in in the attendance register to make sure my presence is known on site and ensure I sign-out upon leaving.
- My line manager/director to make them aware of my whereabouts.
The construction industry is notorious for accidents and deaths on site, what measures can be implemented to prevent these from occurring?
- Eliminate the need of working at height and assemble on the ground.
- Planning and programming of works.
- Allowing sufficient time for works to be constructed effectively.
- Carrying out risk assessments, method statements and educating staff.
- Training inductions & CSCS qualifications.
- Ensuring safe working sites and access & egress points.
What accident kills most operatives in construction?
- Falling from height.
